The last two weeks I have spent at home with my family in CT. About three months ago I requested and was granted another term of service with CAP, and we get two weeks off in between our first and second years. I can't tell you the amount of joy and love I've experienced in eastern Kentucky. It's so hard to go home and try to explain to friends and family what I do and the people I serve. Words can't describe my experience here--and I've come close many times to describing what I've discovered here in the mountains--but truly no one will ever get the full effect unless they experience it themselves. My first year with CAP was filled with many new friendships, growth in my faith and many new skills. A lot of people kind of look at you funny when you tell them you are going to go volunteer for a year, and yes, you aren't getting paid, especially after you've spent four years getting a degree in which after you graduate you're supposed to get that great job and make lots of money. Well, this is what most of society thinks you should do and it's what I thought I was supposed to do until I came to CAP for WorkFest and God opened my eyes. And I'll tell you this--if I was able to go back in time and change my decision I wouldn't think twice about coming to CAP again. Volunteering for a year has allowed me to explore who I am and to develop my faith as well as many friendships that I would have never made if I stayed in Connecticut and went straight to graduate school. I think about that a lot; how there are so many people that I've met here in Kentucky that I've developed such great friendships with, whether they be my housemates, a participant, my crew leader or other CAP volunteers. And honestly, I've realized what is really important in life. I used to want the big job with the big house and the nice cars, and I've realized those things aren't necessary and the relationships in your life are really what make life worth living. God put these people in my life for a reason and they have taught me so much and I value my relationships with others a lot more especially my relationship with God. I knew God when I first came to CAP, but he was kind of one of those friends you only call up when you have a problem.

So when I was home these last two weeks I really enjoyed my time with my friends and family. For the most part I hadn't seen  them since Christmas, which is probably the longest I've ever gone without seeing them. Not only do I appreciate my family and friends more, but I also really enjoy my time with them now since I don't see them that often. While I was home I probably ate ice cream at least once every day, stocked up on my Dunkin Donuts iced coffee and I was even put to work since I now have all these new skills my parents decided to put them to work. So some of my vacation was spent painting a fence that seemed to go on for miles, but when when I was working I truly enjoyed just being HOME. But after these two weeks at home I was ready to come back to Kentucky and to see my housemates because I did miss them like crazy.

So now when people ask what I'm doing and I say I'm volunteering for a second year in Kentucky , you can imagine the looks I get, but I wouldn't want to do anything else at this moment and honestly living a simple life with little money is so much easier than having a job with lots of income because you kind of lose sight of what's important in life.

Kate Stefanowicz is a long-term volunteer in Christian Appalachian Project's Housing program. She lives in Floyd Volunteer house.